Sheet metal smoothing machine



Nov. 18, 1941. w. J. KATTREIN SHEET METAL SMOOTHING MACHINE Filed May' 13, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTPR rein ATTORNEY,

'mzzmm cl/fa? MM Nov. 18 1941, w. J. KATTREIN 2,263,423

SHEET METAL SMOOTHING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ma D Patented Nov. 18, 1941 2,263,423 I SHEET METAL .sMoornme MACHINE William J. Kattrein, ,Albany, N. Y., assignor to Watervliet Tool Company, Inc., Albany, N. Y. a corporation of New York Application May 13, 1936, SerialNo. 79,438

19 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in pneumatic hammers for smoothing and straightening bent .sheet metal parts of automobiles such as the body and fenders which have been bent or dented, accidentally.

The important advantage in the present machine relates to the provision of means whereby the hammer and its support unit may be rapidly raised and depressed relative to the coacting dolly and the work, thus'to enable the tool to be quickly set .to the work, without removal of any of the tool parts thereof, :thus to quickly provide a major clearance for removal or placement of the complete tool.

Another advantage is the provision of a hammer control means which instantly and automatically sets and locks the hammer in operative position relative to the work, bydepressing the hammer.

A further advantage is in the provision of a full floating :hammer, wherein the body of the hammer and its operative parts are held for'f-ree rotation within the tool support frame and bearing.

Another advantage is in the provision of aprecision adjusting :means whereby the hammer and its .rammay be readily adjusted, relative to the work being straightened, while the hammer in in operation.

Further advantage lies in the provision of means whereby :the tool may 'be steadied upon the work during operation of the tool, with means upon .the steadying device for permitting adjustment thereof, as desired.

;The;foregoing and other features of advantage will be apprehended as the herein description proceeds and it will be obvious that modifications may be :made herein without departing from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. '1 is a view, "in side elevation, of the present improvement withthe yoke broken away for convenience and withparts in section;

Fig. 2 is a front, ,partially sectioned view of the hammerhead section, .in elevation;

Fig. '3 is .a view, similar to Fig. 1, but with the hammer head section in work engaging position; 7

Fig. 4 is a partiall fragmented sectional view of the hammer head section as 1-adjustedtforprecision ram setting;

Fig. -5 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the hammer bodyand dolly with the metal to be smoothed, being diagrammatically shown, and

a modified .form of two part base mounted to said body, said base being in section;

Fig. :6 is a sectional .plan view .of Fig. 5 taken on line lie-.6, Fig. .5, looking in the direction of the :arrow;

.Fig. 7 .is a plan view of one part of said modified base;

,Fig. Bis a side view of Fig. '7';

Fig. 9 is .a view, in plan, .of the ooacting removable base member;

lFig. ,10,:is aside view of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmental vertical sectional view showing the lower part of the hammer cylinder, the hammer and ram being shown in elevation.

.As disclosed in Fig. '1, the :complete tool comprises .a .hammer head portion generally denoted by H, which :is removably mounted upon the end of a :heavy, tubular .C-shaped frame 3, which carries on its opposite, upturned vertical end a round ended zteat 5, :shown dotted, this in turn pivotally supporting a hardened, removable steel dolly or anvil :4. The frame 3, in Fig. 1 between its hammer and dolly supporting ends, is shown broken away for convenience.

The hammer portion of the tool comprises aimetal T-shaped bearing, having a vertically arranged scylindrically shaped bearing portion I, which ..has a relatively horizontal, right angled sp'it socket :2 integral therewith, into which one substantially horizontal :end :of the frame i is entered and upon which the socket is clamped by .a Wing nut 8 and stud 1 which traversesthe split 0f the socket, not :shown but which is a well known expedient. :Upon opposite 'sides of whichspl'it are located two integral depending clamp Jugs .one of which 6 is shown.

The frame portion T3 at its socket end is provided with :a short stop and :registrypin P, Fig. .1, and the socket .2, at its outer end is provided with'a milled in :seat 11-, which registers with pin P, ,as shown, vthereby to act to lock and register the head-H in accurate central vertical position over the axis. of ,thedolly 4,.

The air hammer, of eatype well known in this art will be only briefly. described.

The bearing 1 intcr'iorlysupports, Fig. 2, in alinement with the vertical axis ,of the dolly or lower die 4, a *hammer cylinder H], which cylinder is freely movable, axially ,and rotatably ,in said bearing. The cylinder 10in turn supports a "piston hammer 3,1which in .turn is also, freely movable, axiallyan'd rota'tably in said cylinder. The lower inner end of said cylinder is provided withan annular groove 14, into which is mounted a split spring ring [5, which ring is so constructed as detachably to hold a grooved ram or upper die I 3 in free floating operative position under the hammer 9.

Air under pressure is admitted into said cylinder Ill by means of a threaded on side nipple I 920, which is provided with a dual needle valve control l8, whereby to act as an adjustable reducing valve, said air acting directly on the hammer 9, to cause high speed reciprocation thereof, which reciprocation is taken up by the ram 53, and which in turn reacts upon the surface being treated to smooth out dents in said surface, as the tool is moved thereover.

The lower, external end of cylinder threaded as at I2, Fig. 2, to receive thereon and adjustably mount, a threaded, ring-like tool stabilizing base [6, which has a plurality of spokes ll connecting said base [6 to the threaded hub ll thereof. The stabilizing base has two functions, one of which is to be adjustable upon said thread portion I2, to set and hold thetool at its proper operative distance from the work, and to hold it in accurate vertical alinement with the surface being treated. The base 16 may be suitably locked in its threaded adjusted position, by any desired means.

Near the upperendof the bearing l, are'located two integral side lugs 22'22, Fig. 2, which pivotally support two flat strut lever arms 2323 by means of threadedshoulder screws in said lugs.

The opposite ends. of the strut lever arms 23-23 are in turn pivotally connected by rivets 26-26 to the lower ends 212'l of a U-shaped toggle lever handle 25. This latter handle is arched so that when it is rocked from the position shown inFigs. 1 and 2, to that shown in Fig. 3, it will safely clear the hammer adjusting screw 36.

The handle. 25 is pivotally connected to the opposite ends of a cross bar 33, by pivots 2828 carried by said cross bar ends. These latter pivots, when in the position shown in Fig. 1 are only a short distance away from pivots 2626 and in substantial vertical alinement therewith, but

when in the position shown in Fig. 3 the positions of the pivots are altered due to the rocking of the handle 25 from position in Fig. 1 to that of position shown in Fig. 3, the motion being a. little more than 180 degrees and thus the pivots 2828 are carried past the central axis of the hammer, when the arched portion of the handle 25 rests upon the socket portion 2, as in Fig. 3, and act, when in this latter positionas a toggle lock, under the infiuenceof the compressed spring 23, Fig. 3.

The coil spring 29, is supported between the upper fiat edge 32 of the bearing I and the under edge of the overhanging hammer cylinder cap 3|, Fig. 2, so that when the handle 25 is raised from the position of Fig. 3 to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hammer portion I is raised, and held-in such raised position by the spring, until handle is thrown downwardly about pivots 2626 to the'position of Fig. 3, where the compressed spring 23 holds the toggle like jointure between the handle 25 and the levers 2323 in the locked, over-thrown position, until manually released. v

The; pivoted cross bar 33, Fig. 2, .is provided with a vertically disposed precision adjusting screw'36, which is threadedly engaged in said bar .over the vertical axis of the movable air hammer-portion H), the lower end of said screw being ball-ended to rest in a hemispherical seat 35 in the cylinder cap 3|.

The upper portion of said screw 36 is provided with a plurality of vertical indent grooves 31, which cooperate with a spring detent 34, which is fixedly mounted upon said cross-bar, to hold the screw 36 in any adjusted rotative position against accidental movement during the operation of the hammer. Adjustment of this screw causes the air hammer portion In to be moved to increase or decrease the clearance 13, Fig. 3, between the dolly 4 and the ram 13, said hammer portion I0 being thus relatively and micromatrically adjustable to the relatively fixed C-frame and dolly.

By the operation of the throw handle 25, as in Fig. 1, a major clearance distance A is instantly opened, so that the assembled tool may be readily passed over and onto the work in its full open A position, then closed rapidly down on said work, after which, by adjustment of screw 36, the desired working clearances B, of Fig. 3 is obtained. The clearance B may be adjusted without stopping the hammer, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

. During operation of the hammer the cylinder l6 and its appurtenant operative parts are free to rotate relative to each other and the bearing l, the adjusting screw 36 acting as a ball thrust bearing for the cylinder III.

In operative positions where the clearance A of Fig. l is insufficient to permit placement of the hammer for operation, the hammer portion of the tool may be released from the 0 frame by manipulation of the clamp fastening means 6,

I and 8.

In the repair of the tool, by pressing downwardly upon the cap plate 3| and pressing upwardly upon the hearing I, the spring 29 is thereby compressed, the screw 36 lifted out of its seat and the toggle lever handle dropped forwardly and clear of the tool. The base portion 16 may then be removed, and the hammer portion wand sprirlig 29 withdrawn upwardly from the bearmg From the foregoing it will be noted that there is provided in a tool of this type plural forms of adjustment, one for adjusting the ram relative to its hammer and the base stabilizer, one for running micrometric adjustment of the working clearances between the working plane and the ram anda third, instant major clearance adjustment for removal and placement of the tool from and to the working position on the work.

The free, floating movement of the operative parts of the present improvement distributes the reaction wear of the concussion of blows during the operation of the hammer and this movement is caused entirely by the operation of the reciprocating hammer parts.

In Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive there is illustrated a modified form of base or steadying device, which while functioning as described for the base I6 of Fig. 1, is modified to the extent of being made in two separable pieces which are quickly separated one piece from the other, leaving one piece' permanently on the hammer cylinder It], so as to remove a portion of the circular base to enable the user to bring the hammer and dolly closer to a beaded or raised portion, for instance, of a mudguard being repaired.

In the base of Fig. 1, the entire base must be removed vfor the above noted purpose, and in some instances va smaller base substittued, which change consumes considerable time.

The modified base, as in Figs. and 6 comprises a main lsector portion generally denoted by S, which is threadedly and adjustably connected by its split, threaded hub 42 to the threaded section [Zion the cylinder I0, and then firmly clamped at its split section 48, by means of a clamping screw 50 which engages the clamping lugs 41 and 49, on the threaded hub 42, thus to firmly clamp said hub operatively to cylinder iii in any adjusted position. .The hub 42 has three arms 46, 5| and 52 which are integrally connected to the sectored base forming ring 45, Fig. 7, and as noted in Fig. 8, thering 45 is offset from the hub and its arms 46, 5! and 52, leaving the hub and arms located above the top surface of the base forming sector ring 45.

The removable minor sector, generally denoted by s is so constructed as to coordinate with the main sector S, in such a fashion that when latch assembled thereto, it forms a complete base ring s-S, Fig. 6.

The minor sector ring is instantly removable and replaceable on the main sector ring, and to this end, it comprises a short sector ring base portion, generally denoted by s40, which ends at points 5655, Fig, 9, where it is integrally joined by angular arms 4343, which are joined at their outer ends and which, as in Figs. 9 and 10, terminate in two spaced champfered jaw members 44 s4. As shown in Fig. 10, the arms 53 and appurtenant jaws 44 are spaced at a level above the upper edge of sector 49.

At the front of the ring sector 4% is located an integral upstanding lug 53, which has an integral, radial, outstanding lug 54 located at right angles thereto and upon the top face of said lug 54 is pivotally located a flat spring latch M, which is pivotally held on said lug by a headed pivot 53.

The latch ll is held in normally operative locking position as in Figs. 5, 6, 9 and 10, by means of two spaced lugs 51-57, over which, when it desired to unlatch the latch 4i, it is necessary to spring the extending latch end, to partially rotate the latch about its pivot 53.

To assemble the minor sector 8 to the main sector S, the latch ii is unlocked from between its lock lugs 57, and is turned at right angles to its position shown in Fig. 9. Then the arms 63-63 with their lock lugs M i4 are pushed into the open space of the main sector, until the lock arms or lugs i i-4i rest upon the upper face of the main sector ring 45, as in Fig. 5, this motion brings the minor sector til into the main sector with the minor sector stop faces 56 resting against the outer faces of the arms 46 and 5!, as fully shown in Fig. 6. After such assembly, the spring latch M is swung to the positions shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 9, especially Figs. 5 and 6, thereby to engage the inner shorter end of latch 6| over the top of the threaded hub ring 42, as fully shown in Fig. 5. The latch 4| is thus held in its hub engaged position by the latch lugs 51, and the minor sector held in its operative base forming position by a three point suspension, without play, upon the main base ring S.

To instantly remove the minor sector from the main sector it is only necessary to release and turn the latch ii and pull out the minor sector 8.

This modified base structure, as will be noted from the foregoing is rapidly changeable from a full to a partial base as circumstances require.

Having thus described'my invention what is claimed is:

able stabilizing base on 1. A sheet metal smoothing machine comprising abearing member, a hammer membersupported for reciprocal motion therein,means for holding said second member in normally raised position in said bearing and means for depressing and locking said second member in said bearing when in depressed position, and an adjust the lower end of said second member.

2. A sheet metal smoothing machine comprising a bearing member, a hammer member supported-for free reciprocal motion therein, means for resiliently holding said second member in normally raised position in said bearing, reciprocating means for said second member and means for locking said second member in said bearing when in operative position,and a stabilizing base on the lower end of said second member. I

3. A sheet metal smoothing machine comprising a bearing, a hammer member supported for free reciprocal motion therein, means for resiliently holding said member in normallyraised position in said bearing, means for positively holding said member in lowered position, meansfor reciprocating said member in said bearing and a stabilizing base on the lower end of said member.

4. A sheet metal smoothing machine comprising a hammer member, a frame, a bearing on said frame for holding said member in position therein, a dolly on said frame in opposed axial alinement with said member, means for reciprocating said member towards and from said dolly and for locking said member in operative smoothing position with said dolly and an adjustable stabilizing base on the lower end of said member.

5. A sheet metal smoothing machine compris ing a hammer member, a frame, a bearing on said frame for holding said member in position therein, means for resilientiy supporting said member upwardly, a dolly on said frame in onposed axial alinement with said member, means for depressing said member towards and in operative position with said dolly and for lockin said member in said depressed position, an adjustable stabilizing base on the lower end of said member and means carried by said bearing for adjusting said member relative to said bearing, frame and dolly.

6. A sheet metal smoother of the class described comprising a frame, a hammer bearing mounted on one end thereof at right angles thereto and supporting a hammer, said hammer comprising a cylinder mounted'for reciprocating movement in said bearing, a reciprocating hammer in said cylinder, a ram operated by said hammer, means for resiliently holding said hammer cylinder normally in raised position in said bearing and toggle means connected between said bearing and said cylinder whereby to move said cylinder downwardly from said raised posi-- tion, to compress said spring and to lock said cylinder in the down position.

7. A sheet metal smoother of the class described comprising a C-shaped frame, a hammer bearing mounted on one end thereof at right angles thereto and supporting a hammer, said hammer comprising a cylinder mounted for r'e-- ciprocating movement in said bearing, a reciprocating hammer in said cylinder, a ram operated by said hammer, spring means for resiliently holding said hammer cylinder normally in raised position in said bearing, toggle means connected between said bearing and said cylinder whereby to move said cylinder downwardly from said raised position, to compress said spring and to lock said cylinder in the down position and a dolly cooperating with said hammer.

8. A sheet metal smoother of the class described comprising a G-shaped frame, a hammer bearing mounted on one end thereof at right angles thereto and supporting an air hammer, said hammer comprising a cylinder mounted for reciprocating movement in said bearing, a reciprocating hammer in said cylinder, a ram operated by said hammer, spring means for resiliently holding said hammer cylinder normally in raised position in said bearing, toggle means connected between said bearing and said cylinder whereby to move said cylinder downwardly from said raised position, to compress said spring and to lock said cylinder in the down position, a dolly cooperating with said hammer and a stabilizing base on said hammer cylinder.

9. A sheet metal smoothing machine comprising a bearing, a hammer member supported for free reciprocal motion therein, means for resiliently holding said member in normally raised position in said bearing and means for depressing and locking said member in said bearing when in depressed position, and an adjustable stabilizing base on the lower end of said member.

10. A sheet metal smoothing machine as set forth in claim 9, in which the adjustable stabilizing base comprises a fixed main sector forming element and a separable, minor sector forming element and means carried by both elements for removably interlocking said elements together in operative relation.

11. A sheet metal smoothing machine as set forth in claim 9 in which the adjustable stabil-' izing base comprises a main sector threadedly attached and clamped to said member, a second, minor sector detachably mounted to said main sector and means carried by said minor sector for looking it in operative position to said main sector.

12. A sheet metal smoothing machine comprising a frame, a bearing on said frame, a ram mounted in said bearing, a dolly on said frame positioned in opposed relation to said ram, means for moving said ram towards said dolly into operative relation with a sheet of metal to be smoothed and positively looking it against movement in a direction away from said dolly while said machine is in operation, and a second, manually actuated means for moving said ram relative to said dolly.

13. In a sheet metal smoothing machine, the combination with a pair of dies, of means for supporting said dies in opposed relation to each other with the metal to be smoothed positioned therebetween, means carried by said supporting means for delivering a rapid succession of blows to one of said dies in a direction towards the other die, means for positively locking said dies against relative movement in a direction away from each other and means manually operable independent of said locking means for positively effecting relative movement of said dies in a direction towards each other while locked against relative movement in a direction away from each other. 7

14. A sheet metal smoothing machine comprising a frame including a dolly, a bearing formed in said frame opposite the dolly, a hammer mounted in said bearing and having reciprocal movement between an upper position and a depressed operating position; means for holding said hammer in the upper position; means for depressing said hammer and holding it in the operating position, and means cooperating with said hammer for effecting fine adjustment thereof relative to the dolly in said operating position.

15. A sheet metal smoothing machine comprising a frame, a bearing on said frame, a hammer assembly, including an air actuated hammer and a ram, movably mounted in said bearing, a dolly on said frame positioned in opposed relation to said ram, means for moving said ram towards said dolly to bring it approximately into operative relation with a sheet of metal to be smoothed, and micrometer means for moving said ram relative to said dolly to bring it into precisely adjusted operative relation to said metal.

16. A sheet metal smoothing machine comprising a frame, a bearing thereon, a hammer adapted to be actuated by compressed air and including a hammer cylinder slidably mounted in said bearing, a ram adapted to be driven by said hammer, a dolly positioned on said frame in opposed relation to said ram, and means for positively locking said hammer cylinder with said ram'in operative relation to the sheet metal to be smoothed but against movement only in a direction away from said dolly.

17. A sheet metal smoothing machine comprising a frame, a bearing thereon, a hammer adapted to be actuated by compressed air and including a hammer cylinder slidably mounted in said bearing, a ram operatively associated with said hammer and adapted to be driven thereby, a dolly on said frame positioned in opposed relation to said ram, and manually actuated mechanism the operation of which first moves said hammer and ram in a direction towards said dolly to bring said ram into operative relation to the sheet metal to be smoothed and thereafter positively locks said ram in operative relation to said metal but only against movement in a direction away from said dolly.

18. In a portable sheet metal smoothing machine, the combination with a pair of dies, of means for supporting said dies in opposed relation to each other with the metal to be smoothed positioned therebetween, manually actuated means the operation of which first effects relative movement of said dies in a direction towards each other to bring them into operative relation to said metal and thereafter positively locks them against relative movement in a direction away from each other, and means carried by said supporting means for delivering a rapid succession of blows to one of said dies in a direction towards the other die.

19. A sheet metal smoothing machine comprising a frame, an air-hammer assembly including an upper die driven by said hammer, a lower die on said frame, means on said frame for supporting said hammer assembly with said upper die in opposed relation to said lower die, and mechanism cooperating with said hammer assembly, including a lever for manually operating the same, for moving said assembly into operative relation with a sheet of metal to be smoothed when positioned between said dies and thereafter automatically locking it in said relation but against movement only in a direction away from said lower die.

WILLIAM J. KA'I'IREIN. 

